Three SCF Students Win Scholarships From Film Society

(Bradenton, Fla., Sept. 18, 2018)— Three students in the film studies program at State
College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) were awarded $1,000 each from the Barbara
Caras Memorial Scholarship. The Sarasota Film Society established the scholarship
for film students in Caras’ memory for her dedication to promoting quality film entertainment
through the years.

Lizette Alfanso-Moreau, Kim Taylor-Galway and Sebastian Gottwald were among the first-time
winners of the memorial scholarship. Taylor-Galway and Gottwald said receiving the
scholarship was affirming.

Taylor-Galway, an international student from Canada, is president of the SCF Film
Club and won the audience favorite award at the Suncoast Film Festival for her documentary
“Beach Horses.” She also is the communications director for Phi Theta Kappa Honor
Society at SCF. As an international student, the scholarship really helps with her
tuition costs, she said.

“I’m honored,” said Taylor-Galway. “Barbara Caras was immersed in the film community
and wanted to make an impact. It’s also profound that people who know the craft are
saying something about my work at an early stage.”

Gottwald, a Sarasota native who wants to build a film career locally, said the scholarship
proved to him that he made the right decision in coming to SCF.

“It feels really great and really energizing,” Gottwald said. “One reason I wanted
to go to school in Sarasota was because of the film society. I thought if I could
learn here at SCF, I could build a film career in Sarasota. It feels good that they
believe in me.”

Barbara Caras, former CEO of the Sarasota Film Society who died last year, developed
a vision of providing an education in the arts with a goal of keeping the arts alive
in this region. Applicants were required to write an essay about their film inspirations
and provide a portfolio of their work. The executive staff and the arts committee
at the film society reviewed the applications and awarded the scholarships based on
skills and financial need.